Oblique hinged panels and bladder apparatus for sleep disorders

Abstract

A head elevation apparatus configured to be positioned under a mattress may include a base panel and a top panel positioned on the base panel. The top panel may include a center panel hingedly coupled to the base panel. An upper flap may be hingedly coupled to the center panel. A lower flap may be hingedly coupled to the center panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A head elevation apparatus configured to be positioned under a mattress, the apparatus comprising:
 a base panel, and 
 a top panel positioned on the base panel, the top panel comprising:
 a center panel hingedly coupled to the base panel, 
 an upper flap hingedly coupled to the center panel, and 
 a lower flap hingedly coupled to the center panel, 
 
 wherein the center panel is configured to move between a collapsed position wherein the center panel, the upper flap and the lower flap are substantially coplanar and a raised position relative to the base panel, and 
 wherein, when the center panel is moved to the raised position, the upper flap and the lower flap rotate substantially downward relative to the center panel. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the center panel is hingedly coupled to the base panel along a center hinge that extends at a first oblique angle relative to a front face of the base panel. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the upper flap is hingedly coupled to the center panel along an upper hinge that extends at a second oblique angle relative to the front face. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the upper hinge extends at a third oblique angle relative to the center hinge. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lower flap is hingedly coupled to the center panel along a lower hinge that extends at a fourth oblique angle relative to the front face. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the lower hinge extends at a fifth oblique angle relative to the center hinge. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein
 the upper flap is hingedly coupled to the center panel along an upper hinge, 
 the lower flap is hingedly coupled to the center panel along a lower hinge, and 
 the lower hinge extends at a sixth oblique angle relative to the upper hinge. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein moving the center panel to the raised position alters a lateral angle of the mattress. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the center panel is movable to a plurality of intermediate positions between the collapsed position and the raised position, wherein the lateral angle of the mattress is different at each intermediate position. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bladder positioned between the base panel and the center panel, the bladder being inflatable and deflatable to move the center panel between the collapsed position and the raised position. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the bladder includes a lower bladder and an upper bladder coupled to the lower bladder. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the upper bladder is positioned adjacent the center panel, and 
 the lower bladder is positioned adjacent the base panel. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base panel includes a lower panel and an upper panel, the upper panel being hingedly coupled to the lower panel and configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the upper panel moves to the extended position to alter a longitudinal angle of the mattress. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the upper panel is movable to a plurality of intermediate positions between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a bladder positioned between the upper panel and the lower panel, the bladder being inflatable and deflatable to move the upper panel between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the bladder includes an upper bladder and a lower bladder coupled to the upper bladder. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the upper bladder is positioned adjacent the upper panel, and 
 the lower bladder is positioned adjacent the lower panel.